Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-02
CONSPIRACY IN THE WEST
SOME OF THE PRINCIPLES OF
THE SONS OF LIBERTY.

Mr.. VallandiE Eham's Wait to Jacob
Thompson In CAuada-The Order Rep
resented as 100000 Strong aud Aiade
Up from Members of Bo;h Political
Parties.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Jan. 1.-The January
number of the Southern Bivouac will con-
tain second paper on the e"Northwestern
Conspiracy" In this the writer devotes
much space to a narrative OF the efforts
made by Jacob Thompson, especial Com
missioner of the Confederate States in
Canada" in the summer Of 1864, with a
view TO interesting prominent men of the
North in the furtherance OF the peace
policy, and thus aiding to create dissen-
sion and disunion in the Northwest.
Among the Northern men who went to
Toronto to confer with MIR. Thompson was
Judge jeremiah S. Black. Judge Black
was anxious to tnd some plan that would
lead to peace, but mis- labor was frultless.
Mr.. Thompson wa5 also in cOmmunica-
ton with MIR. Vsllandigham, who was at
this time in Canada.
THE SONS OF LIBERTY.
Mr.. Vallandigham explained to Mr..
Thompson the character of the secret
society of "The Sons OF Liberty" OF
which he was Grand Commander. He
assured Mr.. Thompson that the order was
in all 300, 900 strong. There were $1,000
members, he said, in Illinois, 10000 in
Indiana and 10000 in Ohio. The order
owed its existence, it was claimed, TO an
apprehension that the progress OF events
was leading to military despotism
against which it was necessary to
organize and arm. The members of this
association, the writer says, had no per-
sonal sympathy with the COnfederates at
all. 1hev desired that the war should
cease. They did not believe in the con-
stUutional right of coercion, and thought
/ uuwise and harsh, but they deprecated,
If they did not condemn, secession.
DESIRE OF THE MEMBERS.
They had no wish to see the South sue
cessful by armed superiority; and while
they wanted the Fedora! armies with
drawn from Southern territory there were
few Of them who would have contributed
in any way TO Confederate victory, or
wished disaster to the Union arms in the
field. We very soon disc AVered that this
was the temper of these people, and found
it necessary to keep that tact in mind in
all our dealings with them. There seemed
to be hope on the part of some members
of the order, however, and 1t was a fire.
quent topic OF discu ssion, oI establishing a
separate COnfederaCy OF the North western
states, but the great majority, so far as
the Confederate Commissioners and tlelr
suhordlnates could discover the real and
preponderent feelings, were animated,
notwithstanding their jealousy and dis
like of the Federal authority, by strong
desire to see the Union restored ''as il
was"
ENCOURAGING THE IDEA.
- reJt.
siOners endeavored in every way possible
10 foster the idea of a Northwestern Con.
| iederacy TO act in concert with the South
ern. The writer denies that Jefferson
| DAVIS was member OF the order or had
| anything to DO with drawing its const;-
| tuition. Extracts from the declaration OF
| principles are given as follows: "1he con-
| stitutlon of the United States of Ameri-
ca" it was asserted was formed only
''tor the ends and purposes therein dis
| tinctly declared and specified, and the
| government thereby created was endowed
! by the States acting in their several Ca
pacites of free and Independent States
with powers sufficient to the accomplish
meut of those ends and purposes and no
other, powers not delegated to that gov
ernment being by the letter OF the com.
pact expressly reserved to the States or
10 the people respectively.
THE BASIS OF SOVEREIGNTY.
"Sovereignty resides in and with the
people OF the States respectively which
are parties TO the constitution of the
United States.' Ii cannot be alienated.
neither can 1t be delegated. Some OF its
powers may be exercised by delegated
authority, while others cannot be so eX-
cept at a sacrifice on the part of the con-
stituent OF all that lends dignity ~ mans
al fp he..
ment designated the United States oi
America has no sovereignty, because
that Is an attribute belonging to tbe
people in their respective State organISa-
lions and with which they have not en-
dowed that government as common
agent. 1t was by the terms of the CON.
pact constituted by tho States through
the express will of the people thereof
severslly, such common agent to use and
exercise certain specified and limited
powers.
SUPREME BUT NOT SOVEREIGN.
sit was authorized, so far as regards
It's status and relations rs common
agent in the exercise of powers carefully
and iealOusly delegated TO 1t, to call itse 4
the supreme but not sovereign, Tue su-
premacy, as plainly intended by the tenor
and spirit of Article V. Of the constitu-
ton. was created, defined and limited
Dy the overegnties them selves.
Sin accordance with these principles
| the Federal government can exercise only
! delegated powers, hence If those who
| shall have been chosen 70 administer that
ag0vernment shall assume 10 exercise
powers winch have not been delegated
| they should be regarded and dealt with
| as usurpers.
1.-The reference TO inherent powers is
| also TO State or military necessity on the
| part of the tunctionaries Of the constitu
| ti1nal government. for the sanction Orany
! arbitrary exercise OF power il but another
form of assertion of divine right watch
we reject and repudiate as did the pa
triots Of the revolution.
ALL POWER. IN THE PEOPLE.
"All power res des in the people and is
| delegated always TO he exercised for
the advancement Of the common veal
Whenever officials, 10 whom the people
| have intrusted the powers Of government,
shall refuse TO administer IT. in strict ac-
| cordance with its constitution. but
shall assume and exercise power
! aud authority not delegated, ~
| Is the inherent right and imperative
! duty Of the people TO resist
! such officials, and ii need be expel them
| by force OF arms. Such resistance ~ not
! revolution, but is solely an assertion Of
the right.
'lt is incompatible with the history
and nature Of our system Of government
that the Federal authority ,srfx 80.